THIS ISN’T A RESTAURANT.
IT’S A GATHERING.
Hidden deep within the native bush at Te Aratipi Station, The Bush Table brings food, fire, people and place together.
A journey out of town and onto the land—through paddocks and beneath the native canopy—where generous food, country hospitality and a little wildness collide.
FOREST
A walk beneath the canopy, through native bush and towering limestone, to a table hidden from view.
FEAST
A seasonal menu celebrating the best of Hawke’s Bay, served generously and shared around one long table.
FIRE
Locally farm-raised meat and seasonal produce, cooked over live fire in front of you.
THE EXPERIENCE
The Bush Table begins well before you reach the table.
The journey takes you out of town, across the farm and beneath the trees. A path through native bush leads into a secluded clearing, framed by towering limestone formations.
Here, the gathering unfolds at its own pace. Settle in with a drink, watch the cooking unfold around you and take your place at one long shared table.
MEET THE CHEF
KATIE BACHMAN
At the heart of the fire is founding chef Katie Bachman.
Le Cordon Bleu-trained, Katie brings experience from kitchens and resorts across the Caribbean home to Hawke’s Bay.
Each seasonal menu celebrates the best of the region—locally farm-raised meat, seasonal produce and ingredients from Hawke’s Bay growers, makers and artisans, cooked over live fire and shared generously around the table.
MEET YOUR HOSTS
RO & ED PALMER
The Bush Table is hosted by Ro and Ed Palmer at Te Aratipi Station, a fourth-generation family farm in Maraetōtara.
For Ro and Ed, hospitality is about sharing the land generously - bringing people out of town, away from four walls, onto the land and into nature.
From the first welcome to the final farewell, they’ll host you as they would friends: warmly, informally and with a distinctly country sense of occasion.
WAYS TO GATHER
public gatherings
On selected dates throughout the year, a small group of guests leaves town for a hosted adventure into the wild.
Journey across the farm and through native bush to a table hidden beneath the canopy, where cocktails, live-fire cooking, local drinks and music carry the gathering at its own unhurried pace.
Hosted return transport from Havelock North and the complete Bush Table experience are included.
$425 PER GUEST + $25 Humanitix Booking Fee
PRIVATE GATHERINGS
Bring your own people and make The Bush Table yours.
Created for private celebrations, corporate gatherings and incentive experiences, each event is thoughtfully shaped around your group—from the journey onto the farm and welcome cocktails to a bespoke live-fire menu, local beverages, music and finishing touches.
Available on a limited number of dates throughout the year.
THE JOURNEY
FROM TOWN TO TABLE—AND BACK AGAIN
01
LEAVE TOWN
Meet your hosted return transport in central Havelock North and leave town behind. As the road carries you into rural Hawke’s Bay, hear stories of the landscape, the people who have shaped it and four generations of farming at Te Aratipi Station.
02
STEP ONTO THE LAND
At the farm gate, Ro meets you and leads the way across working sheep and beef country and beneath a native canopy of tawa and tītoki. The track winds through the forest to the Holding Pen—our arrival bar, where the table can be glimpsed but the full reveal still awaits. Over a welcome drink, Ro shares stories of the land and what lies ahead.
03
GATHER BY FIRE
When the time is right, your hosts guide you to the Bush Bar and the table beyond. Enjoy fireside bites as Katie and Miriam cook over live fire, then gather for a generous farm-to-plate feast built around locally farm-raised meat and seasonal produce. Hawke’s Bay wines and alcohol-free alternatives accompany the feast while our DJ sets the soundtrack.
04
THE JOURNEY BACK
As the gathering draws to a close, climb aboard for a Can-Am adventure back across the farm, winding between dramatic limestone outcrops and across high country with sweeping views towards the Pacific. Your hosted return transport will be waiting to take you back to Havelock North, completing the journey from town to table—and back again.
GIVING BACK
BOOK AN EXPERIENCE. PLANT A TREE.
At Te Aratipi, every visit leaves more than a memory.
For every experience booked and every stay enjoyed, we plant a native tree on the farm—helping restore and protect the landscape that makes this place so special.
It is a simple expression of kaitiakitanga: caring for the land and ensuring it thrives for future generations. Through native planting, environmental restoration and ongoing stewardship, every guest becomes part of Te Aratipi’s future.
Together, we’re growing a legacy for the land, its wildlife and the generations still to come.
a few things to know
The Bush Table takes place on a working farm, beneath the native canopy and away from conventional dining-room comforts. Here is everything you need to know before joining us.
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For our public gatherings, your ticket includes hosted return transport from Havelock North, a guided walk across the farm and through native bush, fireside bites and a generous feast cooked over live fire, music from our DJ and a Can-Am journey back across the farm.
Drinks are thoughtfully woven through the experience: a welcome drink at the Holding Pen, selected pours alongside the fireside bites, paired Hawke’s Bay wines at the table and a digestif to finish. Considered alcohol-free alternatives are available throughout.
Beverages are hosted and served progressively as part of the gathering, rather than offered as unlimited service.
From the moment you meet us in town, everything is taken care of.
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Allow approximately six hours from departure in Havelock North to your return.
Exact meeting and return times vary between dates and seasons and will be confirmed before your gathering.
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All guests travel together on our hosted return transport, operated by our friends at Mates Travel, from outside Porters Boutique Hotel in central Havelock North. This is included in your public-gathering ticket and allows the experience to begin before you reach the farm.
Meeting times and final details will be sent before your gathering. To protect the flow and safety of the experience, guests cannot drive directly to The Bush Table unless arranged with us in advance.
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The journey begins with a leisurely 20 minute walk across farmland and through native bush.
The track follows natural, uneven ground and may be damp or slippery depending on the weather. Comfortable enclosed footwear with good grip is essential.
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The Bush Table sits high in the Maraetōtara hills, approximately 500 metres above sea level, where conditions can change quickly and temperatures may be considerably cooler than in town.
Dress for time outdoors, wear warm layers and bring a jacket—even when the forecast in town looks beautiful. Sturdy, enclosed walking shoes are strongly recommended. This is not the place for heels.
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The Bush Table goes ahead in most weather. Our dining shelter offers protection from the elements, and a cooler day beside the fire can be part of the magic.
However, we are at the mercy of nature. If heavy rain, high winds or unsafe farm and track conditions mean the experience cannot proceed safely, we may adjust, postpone or cancel the gathering. Ticket holders will be contacted directly with the available options.
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Our seasonal menus are prepared over live fire in a remote bush setting by our small kitchen team. The Bush Table is part of a working sheep and beef farm, so locally farm-raised meat is naturally celebrated here.
With advance notice, we may be able to accommodate vegetarian, gluten-free and nut-free requests. However, because food is prepared and cooked in a shared environment, we cannot guarantee an allergen-free experience or accommodate every complex dietary requirement.
Please tell us about your needs when booking—or contact us before purchasing your ticket if you are unsure. We would much rather have the conversation beforehand than disappoint you on the day.
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Reaching The Bush Table involves walking across farmland and along natural bush tracks with uneven ground.
If you have mobility concerns or may require assistance, please contact us before booking. We will talk through the journey with you honestly and explore what may be possible.
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Our public Bush Table gatherings are R18 unless an event is specifically advertised as family-friendly.
Children may be welcomed at selected private gatherings by prior arrangement. Please speak with us when planning your event.
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Because each gathering has limited seats and is carefully planned in advance, tickets are non-refundable.
If you can no longer attend, you are welcome to transfer your booking to someone else. Please send us the new guest’s name and any dietary information before the event.
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Yes. Subject to availability, you can extend your visit with a stay at Rabbiter’s Cottage or nearby at Limestone Ridge.
Accommodation is booked separately, so please enquire early if you would like to make a weekend of it.
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We would love to hear from you. Please get in touch before booking if there is anything you would like to discuss.
Join Us at the Table
Join one of our public gatherings throughout the year, or bring your own people and make The Bush Table yours.